Electric switch



Nov. 18, 1941. J. HAMMERLY 2,263,210

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec. 6, 1939 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 a 1 22 22\% 8 26'18 sol 2s 33 32 MI I. a F 0 3 I 52 T5 Fig. 2.

A 1 o o fl Fig. 4- 24 INSULATIONL Nov-118, 1941. v H. J. HAMMERLY ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec. 6, 1939 3 Sheets-Shqet 2 m T N E v m JAMMERLY,

Patented Nov. 18, 1941 mac-rare swrron Herman J. Hammer-1y, Plainville, Gonn.,assiguor to The Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, Plalnville, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application December 6, 1939, Sinai No. 307,766

(01. zoo-133) 9 Claims.

My invention relates particularly to what are commonly termed polyphase entrance switches.

One object is to provide a construction of this character which is convenient for wiring at either end; that is, so that the line and load connections may be brought in or out either at the top or bottom with a maximum of convenience.

In installing entrance switches it is frequently necessary to utilize a previously installed wiring system where the line and load wires may be found in various locations. To facilitate connecting the entrance switch it is desirable that the line and load terminals be arranged so. as to require a minimum alteration in the location of the wires and a minimum amount of cutting, splicing, bending, etc. As it is usually impossible to know in advance what the arrangement of wires may be in a given installation, it is desirable that the switch itself be so constructed as to permit convenient connections by simple i e-arrangement of the parts of the switch or fuse mechanism.

In carrying out the invention, I have devised an arrangement utilizing switch and fuse units which are themselves more or lessconventional but are so constructed and arranged that by reversing the position of the fuse unit with respect to the switch unit I have made it possible to wire line terminals from the top or bottom= of the switch box and wire the load terminals from the top or bottom without requiring any substantial bending, twisting or crossing of the wires.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front view of a switch construction embodying one form of my invention, the cover of the box being shown open and the switch mechanism and actuating parts being shown in the closed circuit or on position.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the box with the-- cover closed.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the insulating barrier used between the switch and fuse units.

Fig. 4a is a perspective view of part of the device for preventing access to the fuses when the circuit is closed and the cover is sealed.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the construction showing the cover closed, the sec- 'necting bars with the block and connecting bars load connections all arranged at the bottom.

The box i4 contains the switch and fuse mechanism and is provided with a cover l5 hinged at it along one edge and provided with a catch H at the other edge.

The switch mechanism per se consists preferably of a number of separate units each having an insulatin block l8 and fuse or protective units on an insulating block l9. These are arranged in the box in such a position that when the cover is closed the fuse units only may be made accessible through an opening 20 which is normally covered by a sliding door 2|. This door is supported in guide brackets 22 and provided with an external handle 23.

The interior of the box is in eifect divided into a switch chamber and a fuse chamber by means of an insulating barrier plate 2| which is mounted between the switch and fuse units.

The box itself is provided with any suitable number of knockouts 25 arranged in any desir-able number of convenient positions.

The switch blocks it are mounted on brackets 26, 28 which are secured in the bottom of the box. The blocks may be secured in any suitable manner as forinstance by screws26'.

In the form of switch unit herein disclosed,

I each switch unit has contact members 21 and 28 between which a movable switch member 29 is adapted to be interposed. This switch member is carried by an insulating slide 30 actuated in any suitable manner. Between adjacent switch units I preferably provide insulating barrier plates 3| for separating the parts of opposite polarity. These plates may be secured in any suitable manner.

In the form shown the switch members are actuated by a crank shaft 32 mounted in the sides of the box and having an external handle 33 which may be guarded by a member 34.

Inside the box is mounted a slide 35 which is guided by a pin 36 and connected at its lower end to the crank shaft 32. The upper end of this slide is provided with an offset 31 which is adapted to stand in the line of movement of fabove described.

oi the cover.

number of"screws ll; ing through "openings 41'. This fuse block a les the-fuse clipsg-flfl and 43 for the conventio a1 circuit 'protectihg fuses or relays.v

A bar 'servesto connectxeach-switch unit with the corresponding i'use' end .of the bar 44 is. suitably seciired;to;:aswitoh" vunit, ior instanceby'a screw orstudfl'j and 3 1 51- 'standsin the v "antacid the tiroiection ll carried by the liding d e; n

' be .attached'.

a nut 46. The lower end ofthe bar N'is're- *movably connected by a screw to ajplate .481 j which is suitably connected to the fuse clip 43 by means of a screw", or other meansifi.

The central; part of the insulatingbase--v I9. is

provided with a passage 5| through which the "lower oi'iset end of the bar 44 is extended so as togremovably' connect it with the plate 49 as Each of the switch units is binding post or .li'neterminal 52 which is connected .to the adjacent-switch contact 21. Fuse clip 52 of eachifuse unit is provided with a'load terminal 53 arranged at one edge of the insulate ing base l9.

provided with a sary to demount the I {moving lorewl 4| and the unwellwhiob m I meet the bars and the plates ll.- ..I'heyinlulattins". block 118 than mt isoastoj ti 8't 8 1 ina 5 "iflt-" haib t b d? I to give'mechanical support. 'to-the insulating block ll by re- .f'bring'sj allbf the load'flconnections mansions part of-th box whe eupon-the; load For convenience in B flm thbid! screws AI and 48' arev made pointed. It

" be made of the interchangeable.

preferred that all of 'the' screws such as 41' and I same size'soj-that'they are Tofacilitate the-wiring 1 have. preferably are rari'ged all oi'theline terminals -52on a lower level from .-the load-terminals" 53. The line ter- 'minals" are.usually wiredflfirst and the load terjminalsfcan then be wired lfwithout interfering with'the line terminals. It. will be seen that in I this construction; there is. nonecessity of having load wires cross the line wires.

. .Th'eqWdrd-Line is placed on'the blocks") as shown. to; indicate the terminals for the line connections.) Theword Loa d" isplaced on the edge'of the fuse block 19 to-indicate the terminals for theload connections no matter how the block is positioned.

Obviouslynin this construction, the number of "poles maybeincreased indefinitely, or may be The constructionshown provides for three wire switch control. The fourth wire or wires" may be connected to the terminal 54 or 55 and;

these terminals may be mounted on an insulating block 55 secured to the side of the box and they-may be grounded through a nected to the boxif desired.

The insulating barrier 24 is preferably provided with slots 51 to allow for the passage of the connector bars 44 previously described The barrier is thus supported on the bars which preent movement of the barrier transverse of the box. The insulating barrier is also preferably provided with a number of holes to permit the passage of the line wires when the line wires are to be led out from the bottom of the switch. In view of the fact that the fuse block is in effect oiIset laterally with respect to the switch units, the left hand line terminal 52 can be readily'reached iromeither the upper or. lower side without having to pass through the barrier plate 24. When the line wires are led out strap 56 con- V reversible fuse unit having a load terminal, common means for securing said fuse unit in either of said positions and an through the bottom the other two line wires will pass down through the openings 58,58 in the barrier 24. The barrier plate 24 is also provided with passages 59 to. accommodate the load wires when they are led out through the top as would be the case inthe arrangements shown in Figs; In the arrangements shown in Figs.

1, 9 and 11. 9 and 12, the line wires are led in from the bottom.

To facilitate bringingthe line wires'- 'in'.from the bottom, I preferably provide the fuse block with grooves 50, 80 and 5|, 6|.

As previously indicated the arrangementin.

Fig. 1 is for convenience in wiring the line-wires and load wires from the top or upper part of the box or wiring the line terminals from the bottom. In case it is desired to wire the load terminals from the bottom it is merely necesdecreased.

So that the blockmay be used in either. ofits positions without trouble, the holes for. the] screws'll'and 48 are preferably located on the horizontal center line of thefuse block. and the fuse-clips at the edges of the block are located at equal distances from this center line. x

I claim: 7 1.' Inari electric switch combination, aswitch unit having a line terminal, a separately formed. reversible fuse unit having a load terminal, com-.

mon means for securingsaid fuseunit in position in either of two wiring positions, a detachable connection between said units eflective' in either of said positions and an insulating barrier. u

plate mounted between said units and having-a passage for a conductor.

2. In an electric switch combination, a switch" Y unit having a line terminal, a separately formed,

positionin either of two wiring positions, a detachable connection between said unitszgeifective,

riergplate mounted between said -and passages for line and load wires.-

j 3., The combination oi a row of switchunits H each having aline terminal atone side'and a iuse connection at its opposite side, a discrete reversible fuse block having a pair of fuse clips,

one clip of each pair having a load terminal at one edge of the fuse block. and the other clip of each pair having a connector plate-extending toward the first clip, a connector bar beneath the block removably connecting each connector plate with one of the fuse connections; in either of two wiring positions of said fuse block and single means for supporting said fuse block independently of the switch units in either of said two positions.

4. In a polyphase entrance switch, a plurality of switch units, means for supporting said units side by side, each unit having a line terminal at the front and a load terminal, a reversible fuse-carrying block, removable means for supporting said block along its center line independently of the switch units, said block having a pair of fuse clips corresponding with each switch unit, a load terminal directly associated with one of the clips of each pair of clips at the front of one edge of the block, an extension plate connected to the other of each pair of clips and extending midway between the clips, connecting bars at the rear of the block detachably connected at one end of each to the respective load terminals of the switch units, and means accessible at the front of the block for detachably connecting the other end of each of the rear bars with one of the extension plates midway between the clips of the respective pairs of clips.

5. A reversible fuse-carrying block of insulating material, a plurality of fuse-receiving clips secured to the front of the block adjacent each of the upper and lower edges thereof and arranged in pairs, a wire receiving terminal directly connected electrically and mechanically to each of the, clips immediately adjacent one edge of the block at the front thereof, said block having a passage extending through it from front to back approximately midway between the clips of each pair, a front conducting plate connected at the front of the block to each of the fuse clips opposite one of those to which a wire receiving terminal is connected, a conducting bar at the back of the block in rear of each of the front plates, means accessible at the front of the block for conmeeting each front plate to one end of the back bar in its rear through one of the passages, the other end of each back bar extending beyond one of the edges of the block for connection with a switch member, switch mechanism supported independently of the fuse carrying block and means for supporting said fuse carrying block in either of two positions for wiring, said block being reversible when the bars and plates are disconnected.

6. In a polyphase switch the combination of a switch unit including an insulating base with a passage extending from front to rear, a switch contact at each side of the passage, a switch member movable in the passage between the contacts, a line terminal connected to one contact and accessible from the front of the base, a discrete fuse carrying block, fuse clips mounted near the upper and lower edges at the front of .the fuse carrying block, a load terminal carried by one edge of said block and connected 'to the adjacent clip, said latter block having a passage substantially midway between said clips, a connecting strap attached to the opposite clip at the front of said block and extending between the clips, a second connecting strap attached at one end to the second switch contact, means for detachably connecting the opposite end of said second strap to the front strap at said passage in the fuse block, means for supporting the switch base and means connected at substantially equal distances from its edges for supporting the same adjacent the switch base, said fuse block being reversible.

7. The combination of a switch unit including an insulated base with laterally spaced switch contacts, a switch member movable to connect the contacts, a line terminal connected to one contact and accessible from the front of the base, and a fuse carrying block having fuse clips mounted at the front near its upper and lower edges, a load terminal carried by one edge of said block and connected to the adjacent clip, said latter block having a transverse passage between said clips, a connecting strap attached to the opposite clip at the front of said block, a second connecting strap attached at one end to the second switch contact, means for detachably connecting the opposite end of said second strap to the front strap at said passage in the fuse block, means for supporting the switch base, means for reversibly supporting the fuse block adjacent the switch base, and an insulating barrier plate mounted between the switch unit and the fuse block and having passages for line and load conductors.

8. The combination of a switch unit including an insulating base with laterally spaced switch contacts at the front, a switch member movable to connect said contacts, a line terminal connected to one contact and accessible from the front of the base, a fuse carrying block, fuse clips mounted near the upper and lower edges at the front of the fuse carrying block, a load terminal carried by said block adjacent one clip, said block having a passage between said clips, aconnecting strap attached to the opposite clip at the front of said block, a second connecting strap attached at one end to the second switch contact, means for detachably connecting the opposite end of said second strap to the front strap at said passage in the fuse block, means for supporting the switch base and means for supporting the fuse block adjacent the switch base, said,

fuse block being reversible and having grooves in its rear face alongside of said respective connecting straps for line conductors in the respective reversed positions.

9. An enclosed polyphase entrance having at least a three-pole assembly including a plurality of aligned insulating blocks, a switch unit on each.

block including a pair of laterally spaced stationary switch contacts and a movable contact therebetween to connect the same, a line terminal connected to one stationary contact of each pair of stationary contacts at one side of, the movable contact, a reversible insulating block independently mounted below said aligned blocks, a fuse device on said reversible block for each switch unit, each fuse device including upper and lower clips for supporting a fuse, a load terminal fixed to one of said clips in vertical alinement therewith and detachable means of connection between each switch supporting block and said reversible block at the side opposite the line terminal including a bar having one and connected to one of the stationary contacts of each switch unit, means for-connecting its other end detachably to the'other clip of'the fuse device and means for removably securing said reversible block substantially along its center line whereby when the reversible block is in operative position alongside of said switch supporting blocks in either normal or reverse position, said load terminals will be out of vertical alignment with the line terminals and with the moving parts of the switch units permitting wiring of said load terminals with a minimum of interference with the line wires.

HERMAN J. HAMMERLY. 

